When it came time to pass the torch of Relay for Life’s honorary cancer survivor to a new person this year, organizer Charlene Bouvier thought it might be best to keep it in the family.
“I got conned into it because she’s my niece!” exclaimed Kathy Duban, Bouvier’s aunt, with much joie de vivre.
The 70-year-old is happy to report that breast cancer has not taken away her ability to enjoy life, however, the drug treatments have affected her memory somewhat. Still, she remains resilient and determined to be happy. This surely makes her a qualified candidate for the position to inspire others at the annual walk. She detailed her experiences with the disease that first had an impact on some members of her family but otherwise, she didn’t pay it any attention.
“I was certainly aware of it when I found a lump, and said, ‘Hey! That isn’t very normal!’ ” she began, mentioning that she has an on-again, off-again relationship with it.
“It did last for about 10 years. I thought I was over it … and every once in a while it creeps back and stays for a few months.”
Having this honorary position is important to her because it gives her a platform to talk publicly about people’s health.
“That isn’t necessarily a negative. I do want everybody to be aware of breast cancer. It’s not like when I was young and it happened so rarely. It does happen.”
Duban will be participating in the event as well and said that she will be walking in memory of the loved ones from her life that she has lost to cancer. She particularly appreciates the luminary ceremony where candles are lit around the track to light the pathway for the scant dark hours of the relay, but also to pay tribute to those loved ones.
“That’s a ceremony that can have a lot of impact!”
“We don’t just cry; we laugh a lot too!” retorted Bouvier.
She is thrilled to have her aunt on board and hopes that it helps to bring more attention to the event as well as to cancer prevention and treatment.
She’s concerned that time is running out and registrations are way down from last year.
“It’s never too late to sign up!” she remarked.
So far, there are only 91 people and 13 teams on board. Last year, 119 people on 17 teams participated to raise more than $61,000. This year’s goal is to have 150 people on 20 teams. Bouvier also mentioned that Prince George, B.C. just raised more than $500,000 in its 2013 event, held two weeks ago. If Bellerose High School can top $250,000 for its annual Bike-a-thon (as it did for the first time this year) then surely the rest of St. Albert can step up to make the Relay for Life more successful, she challenged.
“They’ve done amazing! I know it’s there and St. Albert has been great with the donations that we’ve received. The community has been really supportive.”
The event has brought in around $170,000 locally in its first three years. It raises several million dollars across the country each year.
This is also the 75th anniversary of the Canadian Cancer Society, the charity organization that benefits from the proceeds of the event. To celebrate the occasion, any team that brings in $7,500 or more will be entered into a draw for a trip for 10 participants to go anywhere in North America for a Relay event in 2014. For participants who bring in at least $750, they will go in for a number of other draws including a rail trip and gift cards for various local businesses.
To help boost the bottom line, Bouvier is also hosting a pub night at O’Maille’s on the previous Saturday, June 1. That will feature a silent auction.
Regardless of who is walking, she invited everyone to come down for the opening ceremony where there will be prizes given away. At 11 p.m. there will also be a live auction hosted by a guest celebrity.
The fourth Relay for Life takes place at the Fowler Athletic Track on Sir Winston Churchill Avenue, starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 8. It runs, nay walks, until 7 a.m. the following morning.
